Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-01-29
slSMARCK'S OPPONENTS,
windthorst and Richter, Who Spoke
Against the Army Bill.

Especial Correspondence.
BERLIN, Jan. 12-All Europe is excited
over the debate in the reiChStag between Bis
marck on one side and DR. Windthsst and
DR.. Richter, leaders of the Clerical party ard
the ProgressiSts on the other, on the army
bill, and suppose that the excitement has
in some degree extended to the United States.
Let me make this an occasion for giving your
readers some few facts concerning the two
remarkable men who have opposed Bismarck
men who, though widely differing on many
subjects and in many debates, were united on
this occasion.
Ludwig Windthorst, leader Of the Clericals,
is an intellectual giant but a physical dwarf.
He has a fine head Of flowing, white hair and
wears gold-rimmed spectacles He is called
by his admirers "the pearl Of Meppen,' a
place famous for nothing but that it has pro
duced him He was born Nov. IL, 1872,
and, notwithstanding his advanced age, is
still vigorous He studied law in Goettingen,
Heidelberg, and practiced until he was
appointed presiding councillor Of the
consistory at Osnabruck. Hanover was
then an independent kingdom, with a
hatred Of Prussia. WTndthorst was a member
of the Hanoyerian house of delegates from
1919 to 1876. In 1851 he was the president,
and after SadOwa made a national reputa-
ton in his defense Of poor King George
against King William, wrestling from the
latter's hands the Guelph fund, which was
finally granted the blind king In 1851
WindthOrst was elected to the PnlSsian
house OF deputies, and then to the
reiChstag When he speaks his sen
tences are clear cut and smooth; his
ideas flow logically. His achievements
on the floor OF The reichstag won for him in
1871 the title of the little eXcellency." He
has shown himself to be more than Bis
marck's equal in parliamentarian tactics OIL
more than one occasion. The speaker never
has to call Wind. host to order. for he alway!
sticks to the matter under discussion ant
never makes misstatements He is never
abusive nor coarse, but he often exposes hi
opponent 10 deriSion by the use OF clever in
nuendo His greatest stroke was his success
full urging OF the abolition Of the law exilins
refractory clergymen.
Eugene Richter is very different man
Windthorst is the pink Of politenesS, Richter
is the reverse. Windthorst defends the idea
of the past Richter fights in the vanguard o
progress Windthorst is a pigmy i'll size
Richter is IA giant Windthorst is an aristO
crat, Richter is aplebeian. Socially they d,
not conSOrt They bate each Othe
bitterly, but their intense dislike 70
Bismarck often brings them together
Richter was born July 20, 1888, in Dusseldorf
He studied Jurisprudence and nationa
economy IN Bonn, Heidelberg and Berlin. Ii
ls64, he was enrolled in the government ser
ices, but his snCIalistic ideas got him int
trouble Afterward, he was elected mayo
of Neuwid, but the government would no
sanction the election. A year later, he wa
ordered transferred To B0mherg. but was in
dignant at the proposed change, and threw
up his position and moved TO Berlin Sine
thep he has devoted himself to politica
and journalistic work The present efficien
organization Of the ProgreSSist party Is al
most entirely due 10 his skill and zeal as al
organizer He has become the muuthpiece o
the people, and often is naturally arraye,
against the Clerical party. He has a wonder
full memory and has fought succtSsively til
proposed governmental alcohol monopoly
the increased corn duty, state control Of tn
railroads and other projects tending to cen
tralizatiOn At first he sided with the gov
ernment to brir.; about the May laws agains
Catholicism, but seeing Bismarck 50 firml
wrapped up in this measure, be opposed
tooth and nail In 1885 he founded Libera
year He has more enemies than friend
among those who hold office, but he is tn
idol Of the Berlin masses J. K. s.